Brake lever controlled switch



Jan. 9, 1940. J 5; WEEKS 2,186,055

BRAKE LEVER CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed Nov. 5, 1936 In 2724 7 :1 9 F g.4 4f/6' a l f I I 7 /9 v I I7; 3, f O *4 1; k \\\\\\\w. '1::

* Cm-Imp) I A\ l/ L \\\\1 or F1 56 E OJQp/r 5. Weeks A iiorneys PatentedJan. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Joseph S. Weeks, Indianapolis,Ind.; Rosa L. Weeks, administratrix of said Joseph S. Weeks,

deceased Application November 5, 1936, Serial No. 109,370

1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in a brakelever controlled switch for use in electrical signalling and moreparticularly to a warning device whereby the driver of an automobile canbe warned that his brake is on when he cuts in the engine ignition ofhis automobile.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a signallight means whereby a warning light will be given when the ignitionsystem of an automobile is closed and wherein the said warning lightwill become extinguished when the brake is released, thus preventing thedriver from driving his car with the emergency brake applied.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a top plan view of the switch showing the emergency brakelever in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially n the line -5 of Figure1.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view disclosing the electrical connectionsbetween the electrical devices involved,

As is customary, the brake lever I4 operates through the floor openingI5 and in the path of the lever I4 is the spring contact finger I6.Numeral I'I represents a guard for the contact finger IE to prevent thesame from being damaged by the drivers foot. This guard member I I is ofL-shape and extends from the plate I8 which is secured by screws I9 tothe floor of the vehicle. A block 20 of insulation separates the contactfinger I6 from the L-shaped guard plate II.

Referring to Figure 4 it can be seen that numeral 2| represents theusual battery which has a connection 22 to the ammeter 23 and from theammeter 23 the conductor 24 extends to the ignition switch 'I. From theignition switch I the jumper 25 extends to the usual ignition coil 26while another jumper 21 connects to the 5 socket of the lamp I2. Theother side of the socket of the lamp I2 has a conductor 28 extendingtherefrom to connect to the contact finger IS. The brake lever I4 isgrounded so that when the emergency brake is applied, the lever I4 isagainst the finger I6 so that current passes through the lamp I2 whenthe ignition switch 1 is closed. This is a red light warning to thedriver besides illuminating the brake lever I4.

As soon as the brake lever I4 is released it becomes removed from thecontact finger I6, thus opening the lamp circuit so that the lamp I2becomes extinguished.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

In a brake lever controlled switch, an attaching bracket having anangular flange along one edge, a contact member with which the brakelever contacts when in brake applied position, an in- 30 sulated blocksecuring the contact member adjacent one end in spaced parallel relationto said flange, said flange constituting a guard plate positioned behindthe contact member and an angular extension on one end of the guardplate at right angles to and spaced from the free end of the contactmember and constituting a shield for the free end of said contactmember.

JOSEPH S. WEEKS. 4o

